The Most Popular Podcast Platforms in the U.S.

Facebook is about to become the next company to board the podcast hypetrain, as the world’s largest social network is preparing to roll out its own podcast product next week. According to an email sent to podcast page owners, hosts can link their show’s RSS feed to their Facebook page, enabling followers to listen to new episodes directly on the platform through a new podcasts tab.

“Starting June 22, 2021, Facebook will be the place where people can enjoy discuss and share the podcasts they love with each other,” the announcement reads, clearly emphasizing the social aspect of listening to podcasts on Facebook. Adding to that, Facebook will also let publishers decide whether users will be able to share short clips of their favorite podcasts, a feature aimed at boosting visibility and engagement.

As the following chart shows, Americans have plenty of options of where to listen to their favorite podcasts. Based on a survey conducted by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Spotify is the most widely used podcast app, although there is no clear number 1. In recent years, more and more high-profile podcasts have signed exclusive agreements with certain platforms, forcing many listeners to switch between apps for different podcasts.